Sunday 26 / July / 2026
MUSCAT: “A minute of attention can save a life,” the Royal Oman Police (ROP) said as Oman marked World Drowning Prevention Day on July 25 with a renewed appeal for the public to follow water safety measures.
The awareness campaign, launched by the National Risk Register in cooperation with the ROP, aims to strengthen public awareness and encourage residents and visitors to adopt safe practices while swimming or taking part in water-related activities.
Officials stressed that preventing drowning is a shared responsibility that begins with awareness and vigilance. “Preventing drowning is everyone’s responsibility,” the campaign said.
“With awareness, a culture of safety and vigilance, we protect ourselves and our loved ones, making prevention a way of life.”
The ROP also highlighted the importance of constant supervision of children around water bodies.
Monitor children
“It is very important to monitor children closely, and they should not be left unattended near bodies of water,” a spokesperson said.
Authorities have advised the public to swim only in designated and supervised areas, wear life jackets while boating or participating in water sports, avoid swimming in rough seas or flooded wadis, and strictly follow the instructions of emergency and safety officials.
The awareness drive comes as Oman continues to report increase in drowning incidents.
According to data released by the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA), 639 drowning incidents were reported in 2024, compared with 166 cases in 2023, representing an increase of nearly 300 per cent.
Most incidents occurred in wadis, followed by the sea, waterways, dams, ponds, wells, open reservoirs and rain-fed streams. Many victims were adults and children with limited swimming ability who entered unsafe or undesignated swimming areas.
Authorities attribute the rise in accidents to poor swimming skills, inadequate supervision of children, swimming in prohibited locations and dangerous rescue attempts that sometimes result in multiple drownings.
The CDAA has urged the public to ensure swimming pools are equipped with fixed ladders, safety rails and lifesaving equipment, while maintaining constant adult supervision of children at all times.
Observed annually on July 25, World Drowning Prevention Day was established by the United Nations to raise awareness that drowning is a preventable cause of death and to encourage countries to adopt effective water safety measures that save lives.
